Life Out of Bounds

New Website

2012-01-04T12:10:00.000-05:00

I just realized after months I never shared my new blog address!

Here it is! Check out what is going on in The Harrington Household!

Blogger to WordPress

2011-04-06T16:44:00.001-04:00

A lot of change is taking place over here. Please bear with me for the next few days (hopefully not weeks - ha) while I switch from using blogger to WordPress. I actually have no idea what I am doing but I am chalking it under a "learning experience."

Blackberry Break-Up

2011-04-05T14:10:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it but I officially ended a fabulous 3 year relationship with my blackberry. I loved my blackberry and I actually still do; however, it was time to make the switch to the iPhone. The saddest part about it, I no longer have BBM (Blackberry Messenger) which is basically the only reason why I kept my Blackberry for so long. With that being said, for all your Apple users out there what are your favorite Apps., tips or tricks? I barely know how to answer the phone so any advice would be appreciated!

Deals of the Week

2011-04-03T10:13:00.000-04:00

It is a great week for deals in the Harrington Household. I've said from the beginning I am not turning my blog into a "good deal" blog but I figured every once in a while it may help someone out.

This past week at Rite Aid I purchased 70 packs of Trident Vitality gum and 18 American Greeting cards for $0.00. I didn't pay a cent. It was awesome! Anyone need some gum?

At Walmart this week I purchased 20 Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets for -.60 cent. What does that mean? It means Walmart paid me .60 cents to buy them. Have you tried these? I love them!

For today only at Walgreens you can get a free 8x10 of any print you would like. Just go to their website and click on photo. Once there, upload your photo and use the code DEAL8X10 at check out. Don't have a Walgreens around you? You can get it shipped to you for .9 cents which to me it is still worth it! Walgreens is doing one photo deal a day for the rest of the week so be sure to check back to see what their offering!

Celebrity Style: In my dreams...

2011-04-02T09:25:00.000-04:00

I have always longed for an adorable style. In my pre-mommy days I thought I had pretty good style. I spent time in the stores picking clothes out and always made sure I had a cute outfit on. However, in my post-Jayden days until now my style has taken a total hit; which I might add I am totally fine with. I would love to wear a Nike sweatsuit everyday for the rest of my life. That would be amazing and totally comfortable.

This morning while I was waiting for Jayden to get home from a sleepover I headed over to People.com and began scrolling through their daily pictures. Although my style is no longer a priority in my life, I still love to look at celebrity style. As I began to scroll I came across a photo of Christina Aguilera. She is rocking an adorable shirt and I quickly realized I had the same one! Why do I think this is so cool? It gives me hope that my desire to have adorable style is still in me - ha!

Pray for Japan

2011-03-31T14:41:00.000-04:00

By now, everyone old enough to comprehend the news probably knows what has happened in Japan. For a few days following the earthquake pray for Japan was a trending topic on twitter and everyone had something on their social media accounts about what was happening across the globe. The people in Japan still need our prayers. And after reading an article on foxnews.com title, "Japan's Nuclear Rescuers: 'Inevitable Some of Them May Die Within Weeks" it is evident that the people of Japan need our prayers more than ever.

The workers of Fukushima 50 are risking their lives to prevent a meltdown of reactors that were extremely damaged by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. Each worker know that they are being repeatedly exposed to dangerously high radioactive levels but are willing to do so in order to cooling systems back online. Please join me and take 90 seconds out of your day to pray for those risking their lives in Japan and anywhere else around the world to help save others.

Verse of the Day

2011-03-28T13:55:00.000-04:00

As my husband and I were driving in the car this morning I was telling him how I feel more stressed for some reason. I actually don't really know why but I just do. His response was, "Rest in peace babe." I immediately cut him off and gave him a look. He continued his sentence and said, "For He has already conquered all." It took me all but 3 seconds to process what he said.

Philippians 4:6-7 says:

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Jesus is alive. He is with us now, at this very moment. Even in the most stressful situations we must be at peace knowing that He is with us. After I realized that I took a step back, apologized to Adam for giving him a look and thanked him for a peaceful heart!

What kind of basketball fan are you?

2011-03-23T16:46:00.000-04:00

A fellow basketwife of mine from Traveling Allowed wrote a funny piece called "What kind of basketball fan are you?" Check it out!

As I read the following categories I started laughing out loud because I've met at least one wife that could fit into every category. As for myself, I had to go back and read them twice before I could make my decision. First and foremost I am The Knowledgeable Wife. I've played and watched basketball my entire life. I don't want to sound full of myself but I really know the game (just ask my husband who always asks for my analysis of the game once it's over - ha). But along with The Knowledgeable Wife I am guilty of being The Critic as well. Anyone how has seen European basketball knows that 80% of referees are absolutely horrible (was that too harsh?). Bad calls both ways, bad calls one way, making up calls after the messed up the last call, etc., it never ends. And I am the first to call Adam out when he needs a little boost or wake up call. To top it off, I love to give the referees my two cents; never in a rude way but you will most certainly hear me yell, "I am sorry Sir, but that was an AWFUL call."

So to all my basketwives/girlfriends/fiancees what type of basketball fan are you?

Verse of the Day

2011-03-21T13:53:00.002-04:00

I want to remind my readers that you are all so beautiful! Simply gorgeous inside and out!

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

Anthony Robles: One-legged Wrestler

2011-03-21T08:39:00.000-04:00

In the midst of some heated March Madness games was the Division 1 Wrestling National Championship. As soon as Anthony Robles took the mat I was shocked that a one-legged wrestler was about to battle for the National Championship and much to my surprise, he won! It was amazing to see what he could do. I know nothing about wrestling but I do know he is good, really good.

Divorce in Professional Athletics by Erin Crispin

2011-03-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

Once again Erin has blown my mind with a fabulous series of posts titled, "Divorce in Professional Athletics." It is a topic that many people who are not married to professional athletes have questions about. And on the flip side I have met many wives along my journey that are constantly worried about what their husbands are doing while on the road. Please take a look at her recent series to get some insight on how some basketwives and their husbands keep their marriage strong!

My Walgreens Trip: 3/15

2011-03-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

I decided to change things up this week since Rite Aid didn't have anything that I needed nor wanted. So I went to Walgreens this week instead.

My total OOP was $5.24. I also received $1 RR that is good at Walgreens or at Walmart. Not my best deals but not too shabby!

(This picture excludes Jayden's $.25 Transformer Chocolate)

Hillsong United: Aftermath Concert

2011-03-14T10:39:00.000-04:00

On Friday night, Adam and I headed to Boston to go see Hillsong United in concert. One of the bandmates said he would leave tickets for us last week so when Friday rolled around we couldn't wait to get down there! Adam was able to meet with someone he had been emailing with for months now but has actually never met. Of course they talked basketball the entire time but I guess that's what you do when you both have played professionally!

There are no words to describe how amazing the concert was. The presence of God was everywhere! The feeling of people coming together to sing for the same reason was just unreal. I felt honored to be there and it was a night I will never forget! Boston was their last stop for this tour but I am pretty sure they come back to the states in late July or August. If they're playing anywhere by you, you should really check them out!

Playful Words

2011-03-09T16:20:00.000-05:00

Parents, I need advice.

Jayden has just started getting into action figures. He loves Batman and Transformers. He has never watched either of them on TV or in a movie so I have no idea what he is so into them. While he plays with them he often uses harsh words such as "kill," "dead," "hurt," etc. Those words are definitely not allowed during regular play. When I asked him why he is using such harsh and mean words he responded by saying, "Momma, bad guys need to die because they hurt other peoples feelings. They are mean and the good guys are killing them so they can win!" He said it with some much passion as if he was making the world a better place.

For a just turned 4 year old, I think while playing with action figures there are plenty of other words he could be using. At the same time, he did make a pretty valid point. So parents, non-parents, and everyone else, what do you think? Please, your honest feedback would be appreciated!

Joe Crispin: Watch & Think

2011-03-05T14:48:00.000-05:00

For those of you who don't follow Joe Crispin, I suggest you do. He is an excellent writer and his posts are really worth reading. Incase you missed it, I have to share with you a piece he wrote on March 3rd. He titled it "Watch and Think." He talks about 2 videos; the new iPad video and a video of the people of Kimyal receiving the New Testament in their native language for the first time. It really makes you stop and think about what you are valuing the most in your life.

Check it out!

Jayden's 1st Basketball Game

2011-03-05T09:40:00.000-05:00

Once a week Jayden goes to the local YMCA for Rookies Basketball. He gets so bashful when he gets on the court sometimes (which is so out of character for him). On the last day of class, the teacher allowed them to play a game. As you can see, these are beginner basketball players but Jayden really did enjoy himself. He thinks of it as a "team" he is on just like Daddy!

Remembering Wes Leonard

2011-03-05T09:03:00.001-05:00

I overheard someone talking about the story of Wes Leonard last night and this morning when I hopped on the computer to check it out I was speechless and in tears. What a tragic story of a high school athlete. The least we could do is pray for his family, friends and their community. Please pray with me!

My Trip to Rite Aid: 3/4

2011-03-04T14:47:00.001-05:00

You've been reading about my trips to Rite Aid and I have another one. I didn't get too much but I also didn't pay too much either. It's a win/win situation in my book.

Items Purchased
4 Nivea Lip Care
2 Colgate 360 Toothbrushes

Total OOP: $.82.

P.S. One would imagine the Nivea Lip Care is for me, but my dear husband loves it!

Deal of the Week: Dr. Pepper

2011-03-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

I don't drink any soda besides an occasional glass of ginerale. However, like I mentioned earlier, if I can get something for free I would buy it anyways and donate it to our local food bank.

This week at Stop & Shop and Big Y, Dr. Pepper is on sale for $1. There are little peelies that hang down in front of the display for .55 cents off 1 Dr. Pepper 2 liter. Once that is doubled (both stores double everything under a dollar) it is FREE!

I have 11 bottles of Dr. Pepper that I am donating today! Not the healthiest option to donate but it is still something. And for a random fact, I can't even bear to take a sip of Dr. Pepper. The smell of it makes me sick. Happy shopping!

Hillsong United: Aftermath, cont.

2011-03-02T09:22:00.000-05:00

A couple of my friends came through with their favorite music so I wanted to share it with you. But first, I have to tell you that Hillsong United had a SOLD OUT crowd last night at the Staples Center. Can you believe that? I can't even wrap my head around the fact that the LA Lakers sell out the Staples Center and now a praise and worship band did the same. God is real good!

Erin, from Married to a Baller shared here list here:

1. Steven Curtis Chapman- Not only a wonderful guy in person, but a great musician who has been making quality music for a long time. My favorite albums would have to be "Greatest Hits", "Declaration", "All About Love" and "Beauty Will Rise"
2. Tenth Avenue North- "Over and Underneath" and "Light Meets the Dark"
3. Nichole Nordeman- "Woven and Spun"
4. Casting Crowns- "Casting Crowns" and "Lifesong"
5. Cademon's Call: "In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship"
6. Sovereign Grace Music: All 3 of their children's CD's are great, plus my favorites are "Sons & Daughters", "Upward: The Bob Kauflin Hymns Project", "The Valley of Vision" and "Worship God Live" Plus all are on sale right now for very cheap at http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/category.aspx?categoryID=5
7. Out of Eden: "Out of Eden: The Hits"
8. Reilly: "Let June Decide"
9. Matt Redman: "Ultimate Collection"
10. Newsboys: "Adoration: The Worship Album"

And Maria from Pieces of My Mind shared here list here:

Audrey Assad
Chris Tomlin "Arriving"
"Here I am to Worship" (It's a bunch of worship songs from various artists)
Jennifer Knapp "Kansas" and "Letting Go" though I like her work in general
Newsboys -- OK, The Breakfast Song is something I could wake up to daily. I like their other work too, but I love the way this one makes me smile though I wouldn't necessarily call it worship.
Lacrae
And my favorite song of all: The Happy Song on "Here I Am to Worship" CD.

Need a little boost in the morning? I am telling you these songs will do just that!

Hillsong United: Aftermath

2011-02-28T17:22:00.001-05:00

I was never a huge music person. Yes, I love music. I love to dance and I love to sing as if I am Alicia Keys (which is so far from reality). However, it is safe to say that ever since I gave my life to Jesus and started listening to absolutely amazing, good for the soul praise and worship music I am completely in love with music. There are certain songs that can seriously get into my soul and change my entire perspective of the day. And most of these songs I am speaking of come from Hillsong United. Ok I am be a bit bias but they are the most amazing band I've ever heard. With that being said, I encourage you to go to iTunes and download their latest album Aftermath and check out some of their tour dates.

If any of my followers would like to add their favorite christian bands or music please do! I'll add them to this post!

Twitter: Love or Hate? Continued...

2011-02-28T16:48:00.001-05:00

A few days ago I wrote about my feelings toward twitter. I also concluded with tweets from "Cameron Newton." For starters, I will say that I was led to believe that @CarmeronNewton was the real Cam Newton from a fellow twitter friend. Was the account verified? No. Which means I should've known better but I didn't. I was so caught off guard with the awful tweets I couldn't concentrate on anything else.

Later that day I was telling Adam about what I was reading and he said there was no way it could've been him. Continuing on about how well manned he had always conducted himself in interviews, how he talked about his faith, etc. I felt at that point that I probably had made a fool of myself since my information was not correct. I felt the need to go home and change my post immediately. However, then I received a very nice and informative email from a fellow reader. He simply explained that twitter is very slow at "deleting" account from people who are imposing as someone else and regardless if it was Cam Newton or not, he also believed the tweets were still disrespectful and tasteless.

It is a big world wide web out there and my apologizes go out to anyone who has an impostor. I was led to believe that someone who is in the spot light for his talents was a young man with no class or respect. I will admit that I was quick to made a judgement and for that I prayed to God to forgive me.

Twitter: Love or Hate?

2011-02-23T14:25:00.000-05:00

I have talked about my love/hate relationship with facebook before and after reading some disturbing tweets I figured I would elaborate on my relationship with twitter.

I truly enjoy twitter for a number of reasons. Here are some of them:

1) You can follow who you want.
2) You are only allowed 160 characters per message; this cracks down on the 7 paragraphs of complaining about laundry, work and the kids people do on facebook.
3) No one can tag you in an unflattering photo.
4) There isn't much personal information one can provide with twitter.
5) When you follow the right people, a tweet can really inspire you and get you thinking.
6) And lastly, you don't have to read about what people are doing 24 hours of the day.

I only follow 62 people. Of those 62 people, at least 50 of them are church friends or pastors, some family and a couple celebrities. Why do I follow @swish41? Who knows, but since Kris Humphries has about the same number of followers as he does I figured I'd keep showing him some love!

Now on to the "hate" part of this post. An old teammate of Adam's tweeted about how disturbing some of Cam Newton's tweets were. So I decided to check out @CameronNewton and see what he was talking about. Sure enough, I was completely blown away by how degrading, rude, conceited, etc., his tweets are. I just lost so much respect for him (not that it really matters) but when someone is in the spotlight and has a younger generation looking up to them, there is no reason to write such awful things. Adam's teammate then tweeted, "Talent is God give. Be humble. Fam is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-give. Be careful @CameronNewton" ....And I think the last line sums it up.

So on that note, follow me on twitter @kharrington8 and some of my lovely friends, @aharrington21, @erinlcrispin, @mariawj, @lauralentz, @carllentzNYC, @joelhouston, @ChristineCaine, @Mai2Flyy, @crispin3!

My Favorite Items: Magnatiles

2011-02-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

Jayden was blessed with Magnatiles for his birthday. He received so many gifts for his birthday that I put some away so he didn't open them all in one day. I set these aside for a day that I needed a nice calming/relaxing activity for him to do. And today was the day! As soon as I opened up the box he was ready to dig in. He absolutely loved them. He literally played with them for 35 straight minutes (for Jayden, that's a big deal)! He even followed the direction to make certain figures; a house, rocket ship and soccer ball. A big thanks to Miss. Kate and Mr. Daly!

Manners

2011-02-18T23:04:00.000-05:00

My lovely friend Leigh over at A Boy, His Girls And A Big Dog posted about manners yesterday. As her oldest daughter is working on manners at school it was fitting when she read a list of "25 Manners Every Kid Needs by Age 9." She then added her own little comments on how her girls are doing with their manners (and I thought I'd do the same)! The list goes a little something like this:

1) When asking for something, say "Please!" (Good at this one... especially when asking for something from someone besides myself).
2) When receiving something, say "Thank You!" (Check... 90% of the time).
3) Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking. (Extremely bad at this one.... I truly think it is because Jayden usually has 100% of my attention so when I am talking to someone else he still expects the same attention. Excuse?).
4) If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation. (Jayden thinks "excuse me" gives him the go ahead to speak. He always says excuse me when trying to enter a conversation but doesn't always wait until his turn to talk).
5) When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later. (Good at this one; Jayden gets shy and bashful when faced with a doubtful situation. Hopefully this doesn't change with age - ha).
6) The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults. (We try to keep things positive in our house but there are times Jayden has a strong opinion about something that he doesn't like and he will let it known).
7) Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, its to compliment them, which is always welcome. (Jayden is great at giving compliments; today he told me my hair "is looking great Mom").
8) When people ask you how you are, tell them, and then ask them how they are. (Not here yet; Jayden will tell people how he is, then just smiles).
9) When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had. (Sometimes we have to remind him but we make him thank anyone for having him/us over; grandparents, aunts, friends, etc.).
10) Knock on closed doors, and wait to see if there's a response before you enter. (Funny one. I don't remember the last time I could shut the bathroom door without an intruder. If I lock a door and then tell Jayden I need privacy, he does wait until I open the door).
11) When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling. (Jayden always asks who is calling him but that's about it).
12) Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank you note can have a powerful effect. (With Christmas and his birthday recently, he has really learned to say "thank-you" for anything he recieves. I also made him write out thank-you notes for his birthday gifts).
13) Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant. (There are some smaller words in our home that are not allowed; stupid, hate, etc. The other day Jayden said "sh*t" totally out of context but still said it and I was mortified. As soon as he said it, he knew something was wrong. He immediately apologized for using a bad word. I asked him where he heard that word and he said at school. I made it clear that that word is totally inappropriate and unacceptable. Hopefully that doesn't come up again anytime soon).
14) Don't call people mean names. (Bad names for Jadyen are "chicken butt" and "doppy." Not kind names but I guess it could be worse).
15) Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak and ganging up on someone else is cruel. (Not sure Jayden even know what "making fun" of people means. However, he does know how to tease especially when playing sports).
16) Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best. (After sitting through basketball games since 3 weeks old, Jayden's pretty darn good at this one).
17) If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse Me." (I'd say 50% on this one; sometimes he says excuse me before the adult does, other time he keeps walking and minding his own business).
18) Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and don't pick your nose in public. (Sneezing no, coughing yes and we are doing very good at using a tissue to handle the nose situation).
19) As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else. (Great at this one; must have picked up that habit from being the door holder at school).
20) If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes", do so-you may learn something new. (Jayden helps when he is interested in helping; unloading the groceries, preparing food).
21) When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile. (Jayden is great at this when a someone who isn't too close to us asks him; but I have to laugh because this may take a few years to perfect)!
22) When someone helps you, say "thank you" That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers! (Jayden is good at this one; however, we've been teaching him to accept help when someone offers it. Help from others is good)!
23) Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do. (Jayden doesn't have the best overall table manners but he is great at this one. Why? I never, ever let Jayden feed himself when he was younger. I couldn't stand the mess so he is a super clean eater and can't stand being dirty)!
24) Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary. (A napkin by his plate is the way we go for now. As long as he wipes his hands on his napkin and no where else then that's ok by me)!
25) Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed (We don't have a huge table so there isn't much reaching)!

I can't wait to repeat this post once a year until Jayden is 9. I wonder what will change and what will stay the same or get worse. Manners are very important on our home and I pray that God will guide Jayden on the path of good manners!

Crocs

2011-02-17T11:59:00.002-05:00

My son loves Crocs in the summer! If we are at the beach, swimming or doing anything non-physical, I allow him to wear Crocs instead of sneakers. Well yesterday I bought him some Crocs for the summer since the deal was too good to pass up.

If you go to the outlet section of the Crocs website you can see that they have Kids' Athens and Gabe Crocs on sale for $9.99 each. If you use the coupon codes ALLYOU20 and FALLSHIP, you get 20% off and Free Shipping!

$7.99 for a pair of Crocs, I'll take it!

Soul Surfer

2011-02-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

I came across this interesting article on FoxNews today and thought I would share it with you. The caption read, "Bible Edited Out of Film 'Soul Surfer' to Appeal to Non-Christians, Added Back In." According to the article, the words "Holy Bible" were cut from the film. The parents of Bethany Hamilton were upset that the words were removed from the cover of the Bible that he was reading to his daughter by her hospital bed.

The article is brief, but it makes me wonder, would someone really stop watching the movie if the word "Holy Bible" was shown on the cover of a Bible?

200th Blog Post

2011-02-17T10:27:00.001-05:00

At my 100th blog post I wrote 100 random things about myself (11 posts late). Of course, I've missed my 200th blog post (that was 26 posts ago) but this time I am going to answer 200 random questions I found online. Enjoy!

1. Who is your oldest friend? How long have you known them? I've known Jay and Sara since birth. Both are still my best friends
2. Would you date someone you met online? Probably not
3. What's your favorite song? I am currently in love with the new Aftermath album by Hillsong United
4. Do you get along with your parents? Very well
5. What are you wearing right now? A Sweatsuit
6. Yahoo or Google? Google
7. Do you have any tattoos? I do not
8. Have you ever cut yourself? No
9. Have you ever been on the radio? I have not
10. What does the world need less of? Fighting and Hate
11. Cappuccino or coffee? Tea
12. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla
13. Do you study the Bible? I do, daily
14. Where did you go to school? Graduated from the University of Massachusetts
15. How much do you weigh? I have honestly weighted the same since I was about 17 (minus when I was pregnant with Jayden)
16. Are you registered to vote? I am not
17. Do you like yourself? I do, I have learned to love myself (thank you Jesus)!
18. Have you ever gone skinny dipping? Probably when I was a child
19. Last time you were really really mad? When Adam cut Jayden's hair (silly, I know)!
20. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping
21. Do you like animals? I am actually not an animal lover. I think they're cute, but just not for me.
22. Kleenex or Puffs? Which ever
23. Dominos or Pizza Hut? Dominos
24. Do you get enough exercise? Probably not as much as I should
25. What is your favorite female name? Louise
26. Do you drink alcohol? I have an occasional glass of champagne every now and then
27. Do you enjoy going to bars? I'd rather be at a nice restaurant enjoying conversations amongst friends
28. Have you ever been on a motorcycle? Does a scooter count? If so, then yes!
29. Right handed? Left handed? Both? Right
30. Do you think you're attractive? I have my days! :)
31. When do you get up? Around 7:30 AM
32. What's your favorite movie? Sweet Home Alabama
33. One rumor that's been spread about you: I actually have no idea
34. Have you ever been dumped? In elementary school
35. Have you ever been hit on by the same sex? Not that I can recall
36. Do you like taking surveys? Not really, just something fun for my 200th posts
37. Orange juice or apple juice? Orange
38. What's your favorite band? Hillsong United
39. TV or movie? Movie
40. Do you consider yourself religious? Yes, I am in a relationship with Jesus!
41. Have you ever cried yourself to sleep? I don't think so
42. What kind of music do you hate? The kind that is angry
43. Have you ever done yoga? Yes
44. What's your favorite store? Target
45. Say something annoying. When my son repeats my name 100 times while I am on the phone; that tends to get annoying. However, when I tell him that it is rude to interrupt he will proceed to tell me he said "excuse me" first
46. Who did you last talk to? Adam, my hot hubby
47. What is your hair color? Dark brown
48. Where do you live? In a condo
49. Do you like walks in the park? Love them
50. Mints or chewing gum? Chewing gum
51. Have you ever dated a friend? Yes, Adam is my best friend
52. Do you believe you are spontaneous? I do
53. Do you get annoyed easily? Not at all
54. Have you ever been late to work because of facebook? I have not
55. Do you still use film for cameras? No
56. Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea? Either
57. Have you ever smoked? No
58. Have you ever prayed? Yes, numerous times a day
59. Would you be president if you could? No thank you
60. Land or water? Land
61. Have you ever searched for your own name on Google? I have not
62. Have you ever been toilet papering? No
63. Watching or playing sports? Both!
64. Is there happiness in your life? There is! Heaps of it!
65. What is your favorite name? Louise, Kallen, Mason, Alexis, Mae, Ava ...the list could go on!
66. Hot or cold? I'd rather be hot
67. What is your favorite number? 8 and 21
68. Would you go rock climbing? Yes
69. Would you try to take over the world? No, the world is His!
70. Why do you admire people? Because the gift of life is given by the Lord and for that it is something to admire!
71. What is the last thing you said to someone? "I am chilly!"
72. Would you go skydiving? I can't say that I would
73. Have you ever peed your pants after age 8? No
74. Do you hate yourself? No!
75. Do you smile a lot? I do!
76. Have you ever been abducted by aliens? ....I have not.
77. Would you chug beer? I actually don't like the taste of beer, at all.
78. What's your favorite drink? Water followed closely by ice-tea
79. Have you ever broken a bone? I have
80. Favorite age you have been so far? I loved them all. Every age has its lessons!
81. Cars or boats? I am not into either.
82. Would you marry your friend? I did!
83. Favorite day of the week? Sunday & Monday
84. Have you ever beat someone up? No! I am a lover. I actually despise fighting.
85. Would you have plastic surgery? Not unless it was necessary
86. Have you ever seen Nine Inch Nails in concert? I have not
87. Have you ever kissed someone in the rain? I am sure Adam and I have
88. Who have you met online? I've actually met two of the most amazing woman I know online!
89. Do you read much? I do read but not as much as I would like
90. Are you afraid of the dark? I am actually totally afraid of the dark believe it or not
91. Have you ever been to a concert? Yes
92. Would you eat sushi? No
93. Do you like the band Nine Inch Nails? I have no idea who they are
94. Do you have any collections? I collect Adam's basketball gear
95. Are you color blind? I am not
96. How much cash do you have right now? Probably $40 in my wallet. I am not one to carry cash.
97. Who is your newest friend? Not too sure.
98. Do you smoke? No, the smell of smoke actually makes my stomach turn.
99. What is something you wish you were better at? Cooking
100. Last phone call? My mom
101. What was the last compliment you received? Adam told me I was cute, even though I had blood all over my face. Now that's love... ;)
102. Name one person you love, and why: Jayden, because he always puts a smile on my face!
103. Would you lie to your best friend? No, never
104. Tofu or bacon? Turkey bacon?
105. Who do you talk to most on IM? No one
106. Are you a health freak? Not really
107. Explain what you think about life. It's amazing! I thank God for the gift of life everyday!
108. Have you ever been arrested? No
109. What was the last insult you GAVE? I probably said someone was a bad driver under my breath
110. Favorite comic strip? Not really into comics
111. Why do you like the music you do? It's inspiring and good for my soul!
112. What do you think of reality TV? I am not a huge fan; however, I do like The Biggest Loser. I love seeing people get their lives back!
113. What do you call those little plastic things on the ends of shoelaces? No idea
114. Do you sleep naked? Nope
115. Hug or kiss? Either or!
116. Would you kiss a stranger? In Europe, I've probably kissed at least 200 people I didn't know (on the cheeks that is)!
117. Would you set yourself on fire? No
118. Do you like dogs? Not really...
119. Do you love someone? I do!
120. Your crush's first name: I started to have a crush on Adam when I was 12 years old
121. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? My face isn't that swollen; must've been the ice!
122. Yoga or pilates? Pilates
123. Have you ever danced in public? Yes, I love to dance!
124. Ocean or pool? I love them both!
125. What is your favorite sport to watch? Basketball
126. What is your biggest fear? Horses and dying in a car (again, silly, I know)!
127. When do you go to bed? Around 10 PM
128. Who do you talk to most on the phone? My mom and sister
129. Do you find people interesting? I do!
130. Logic or art? Both
131. What does the world need more of? Love!
132. Do you brush and floss? Yes
133. Do you like to learn? I love learning
134. Would you run from the police? No
135. Have you ever been camping? Yes, when I was younger. Not my favorite thing to do.
136. Lace or satin? Satin
137. Have you ever written a song? I have not
138. Have you ever missed a meal because you were busy on facebook? No, never
139. Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman? Emily Dickinson
140. McDonalds or Burger King? Neither in the states, but in Europe, McDonalds
141. Do you like dancing? I love it!
142. Coke or Pepsi? Neither, I actually don't like any soda besides ginerale
143. Favorite country? Besides America, France or Croatia
144. Shorts or pants? Either
145. Have you been on drugs? No
146. Do you want to have kids? I would love to have more kids!
147. Do you want to get married? I am, it's amazing!
148. Are you a vegetarian? No but I don't eat any red meat/beef
149. Do you know how to drive a car? I do
150. Happy or depressing music? Happy!
151. What is your eye color? Brown
152. Would you drop out of school or quit your job? Never
153. Do you believe that animals have souls? Sure
154. Do you hate someone? No one, hate is a very strong word
155. Do you ever use your full name? On account information, yes
156. Have you ever shoplifted? No
157. Have you ever been in a movie? No
158. Do you have a bad life? I do not!
159. Favorite city? Paris, New York or Zagreb
160. Would you give money to a hobo? I would
161. What is the perfect day for you? Family, friends and Jesus
162. Are you a neat freak? Big time
163. Have you ever fallen in love with a neighbor? No
164. Are you ghetto? No
165. If you had to get married now, who would you want to marry? Adam :)
166. Group or single dates? Either or, it's nice to have some alone time with Adam though
167. Last time you used the bathroom? A little while ago
168. Have you ever considered suicide? Never
169. Do you know how to drive stick? I do not, how embarrassing
170. Have you ever asked someone out? Maybe in Elementary school
171. Would you date someone younger than you? Probably not
172. Have you ever been to a different country? I have, many of them!
173. What is your favorite flavor in general? Orange or grape
174. When you wake up, what is the first thing you think? Where is my Bible
175. Do you get motion sickness? Not usually
176. How tall are you? 5'7''
177. Do you like the band Radiohead? Never heard them
178. Explain what you think about dating. I am so thankful I will never have to "date" again
179. Favorite type of shoe? Nike Lunar Glides 2 (absolutely amazing sneaker)!
180. Have you ever gone streaking? No
181. Do you believe in yourself? I do!!
182. Do you own a camera phone? Yes
183. Do you want to go to college? I already finished. Maybe I'll go for my Masters someday.
184. Who do you want to meet? Erin and Maria, they're superstars in my life!
185. Have you ever sworn? Yes, very rarely though
186. Have you ever gone to a private school? No
187. Have you ever kissed someone? Yes
188. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes
189. Have you ever performed on stage? Yes, I danced for 14 years!
190. How do you vent anger? Talk, pray and workout
191. Why are they called fingers if they don't fing? ??
192. Have you ever skipped school? Yes
193. Do you own a car? Yes
194. Who is your favorite celebrity? I am not really into celebrities; so I'll have to say the big German!
195. Do you hold grudges? No
196. Do you wear glasses? Sunglasses; my eyes are so sensitive to sun
197. What's your family like? Amazing! I love my family!
198. Have you ever been on a road trip? Yes
199. What does your name mean? According to one website it is a Latin name meaning, "Christ's follower."
200. Last time you saw your dad? New Years Ever

Wow, that's a lot of pointless questions. I really should've read all the questions before I started. I hope I didn't bore you as much as I just did myself!

Blog Roll: Continued

2011-02-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Erin introduced me to a couple new blogs. I should start out by saying, it is hard for me to really love a blog. I certainly like reading blogs but there are not many out there that I truly love.

One that I have been liking a lot is Jon Acuff's: Stuff Christian Like. He is funny and his posts are right on cue making a connection to everyday life and the Bible.

Also, the other day she mentioned a blog called Girl Talk. Now I haven't been able to give this blog a full read, but the first story had the flood gates open. I actually remember watching the first video of Zac Smith a few months ago. Since then, he has met Jesus and his wife talks about her tears of hope.

Check it out. It is truly a touching story of how such a tragedy can bring you closer to God and help you learn that no matter what happens or how bad thing can get, "God is still God and God is still Good!"

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T09:42:00.001-05:00

Wishing everyone a very, Happy Valentine's Day today!

As you go about your day today remember Ephesians 5:21! Submit yourself to others, give up your own will and want to live for one another. Can you imagine how much love would be in the world if we did this just like Jesus did to others.

Valentine's Day 2010 - Kolobrzeg, Poland

My Rite Aid Trip: 2/14

2011-02-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

So last week I told you about my deal at Rite Aid. Well it's another week so I have yet another deal (unfortunately I don't have a picture this week because I already put some/gave some away)!

Items Purchased

3 Dove Deodorants
1 Degree Deodorants
2 Colgate Toothpastes
2 Boxes of Ziploc Bags (50 ct.)
2 Bottles of Softsoap Handsoap
2 Bags of Chex Mix
1 Vasline Lotion
2 Bottles of Finish Dishwashing Detergent
1 Bengay

Total: $1.32

But....

I have $5 Rite Aid Dollars towards my next purchase so I actually made money!

Happy Birthday, Jayden!

2011-02-13T21:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know I am 5 days late. But within those 5 days we have celebrated Jayden's birthday at 3 different parties (this is what happens when your son celebrates his first birthday in the states). I have yet to finished Jayden's 3rd year video yet so until then I will share a couple photos of his birthday fun with you!

On that note, I continue to thank God for another year of life. After celebrating Jayden's 4th birthday on Tuesday I really had to stop and reflect on how amazing God is to give us the gift of life! He has created Jayden just so perfectly that I am having a hard time trying to find the words to right this post!

My Rite Aid Trip: 2/7

2011-02-07T14:42:00.000-05:00

Some of you may know about my recent (very recent) coupon obsession. I should make it known that whenever I do something I like to do it very well. I can't stand when things are done half (insert inappropriate blogging word). In other words, I couldn't ever see myself just using a couple coupons here and there. Enjoy the picture below and take a guess on what I spent on it all.

The Items I purchased
6 Old Spice Deodorants
4 Gillette Deodorants
4 Gillette Body Washes
2 Betty Crocker Cake Makes
2 Betty Crocker Frostings
2 - 25 Dixie Plates
4 Bags of Halls
4 Rolls of Bounty Paper Towels
12 Pack of Cottonelle Bath Tissue
2 Lysol Disinfectant Spray

Grand Total: $10.42 :)

Verse of the Day

2011-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change life shifting shadows. -James 1:17

One thing we must remind ourselves is that God is consistent. His faith is consistent, his grace is consistent, his love and promises are consistent. It is amazing to think that when life is ever changing there is one thing that will always be consistent; God.

Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice

2011-02-02T15:03:00.000-05:00

Adam's appetite has been out of control. There is nothing I can feed him that satisfies his hunger. He also has been coming home very late due to his training schedule. So I needed to find something that would be good as leftovers and that's when I found this quick and easy Chicken Fried Rice receipe.

Ingredients

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 eggs light beaten

1/4 cup chicken broth

2 cup of frozen stir fry vegetables, thawed

3 tbsp kikkoman Soy Sauce

3 cups Minute Rice, uncooked

1/2 lb chicken, diced and cooked

Directions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat

Add Minute Rice, brown slightly (about 3 minutes)

Add eggs; scramble until cooked thoroughly

Add broth, vegetables, chicken and kikkoman Soy Sauce to skillet

Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

This was my first attempt at this recipe. Adam said the rice was a bit dry but other than that it was really good. I plan on adding a little more chicken broth and soy sauce the next go around.

Facebook Fad Ending?

2011-02-02T14:53:00.000-05:00

I came across this article by John R. Quain today and had to share it with you. You all know I have a love/hate relationship with facebook but it is interesting to see how "dangerous" facebook has become. Truthfully, I wish we could go back to the start of facebook and enjoy how simple and meaningless it was.

American Idol: Love Story

2011-01-27T20:34:00.000-05:00

I am not going to lie, I do not and never will watch American Idol. However, a friend of mine sent me a short video of one contestant trying to make it to Hollywood. He warned me that it was a tear jerker and he was right.

Check out this amazing love story about a couple 2 months away from their wedding day!

More Blogs!

2011-01-26T20:53:00.000-05:00

The other day I wrote about a few of my favorite blogs. While I knew all along my friend Erin's husband had a blog I never sat down to read all of his posts like I do on Erin's blog. Well he caught my attention with his latest series on pursing athletic greatness as a Christian. It is a must read! So I will add to my blog roll!

Joe Crispin
Make sure to check out his latest post about being fired over a tie. It will definitely give you a laugh! :)

Meals with Maria
I forgot to add this one! My friend Maria has some great recipes that are super healthy and most are made from scratch!

We Use Coupons
My latest addiction. Please don't make fun of me. The other night, I found myself watching Extreme Couponing on TLC and felt challenged. Therefore, I took the challenge to start seriously using coupons. So far my greatest deals have been: 4 Bottles of Xtra Laundry Detergent and 9 rolls of Scott Paper Towels for a total of $4.03! And on Monday I bought 4 tubes of Colgate Toothpaste and Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Cleaner for $1.97! I love a challenge :)

(And yes, the latest paragraph shows that I have a lot of free time on my hands - HA)!

The Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Basketball Classic

2011-01-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, the JEHH Memorial Fund held its 1st Basketball Classic and to say it was a success is an understatement. We have had numerous emails come in saying players felt like they were part of the NBA. Adam really did an amazing job creating an atmosphere that most kids will never experience. During halftime, local dance groups performed and the crowd loved the fun games during timeouts. We had amazing volunteers that helped out from beginning to end! Being apart of such an amazing, full of love foundation is just an incredible honor. I know Jilly was smiling down on us (especially when Cameron Diaz won the raffle - HA! She opted to donate it back and draw another name)!

Please enjoy a few pictures from the event!

The locker rooms!

Most Valuable Player Awards!

A few volunteers!

The little mascots!

Warm or Fashionable?

2011-01-16T21:51:00.000-05:00

If anyone knows me they know I am not known for "dressing for the weather." Why? I don't like to layer. I'd rather wear one t-shirt and call it an outfit. However, things have finally changed. I made a huge life realization this weekend. And here it is: there comes a time in your life when you must choose to be warm or be fashionable and I've finally reached the point in my life where I'd rather be warm then be any bit fashionable.

With that being said, the hands down best two purchases I've made this winter have been a pair of boots (no I am not talking about fashionable boots I am taking about a good pair of winter boots) and a pair of snow pants. I've lived in New England nearly my entire life and I've never owned a pair of boots (crazy, I know). So my advice to you this winter, who cares what you look like as long as you are warm! :)

Sweet boots, ay?

Morning Prayer

2011-01-14T10:13:00.000-05:00

If anyone follows me on facebook you would've seen my status of Jayden blessing our food a couple days ago at breakfast. We didn't even ask him to bless our food, he simply put his head down and utter these sweet words, "Thank You Jesus for my food and family. Please let Jilly come down from Heaven. Amen."

I instantly felt a tear. And then I thought back to the night before when he saw Jilly's pictures on the wall and asked when she can be done playing with Jesus and come see him. And then last night while we were driving he said that it is ok to cry and be sad like Mommy does sometimes when we talk about Jilly. This is all still so new to him and we are trying to explain to him where Auntie Jilly is without using certain words.

I took some time to think about Jayden's questions and blessing to see why this week he has been asking so many questions and then it hit me; Adam has been working non-stop on the basketball classic that is taking place this Saturday and Jayden is looking for his attention. When Adam explains to him that he has things to do for Jilly's foundation, he begins to wonder and ask questions.

None of this is easy but with God's strength I am finding myself being able to explain and answer Jayden's question in a way that he can try and make sense of everything. I will continue to pray that God will provide me with those answers and help a little heart understand something that even as a grownup is hard to do.

In the Big Apple with Auntie Jilly!

National Champions!

2011-01-11T15:21:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers! What a great game! I woke up with 1 minute and 36 seconds left in the game because Adam was shaking his legs so fast on the couch I thought I was on a boat! Thankfully Auburn scored on the last drive of the game to secure them the victory!

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy! We're Auburn fans in the Harrington Household!

3 Days Old

Negative Reaction

2011-01-08T14:41:00.000-05:00

We've all done it. A situation arises and you speak before you think of what you really want to say. Or you say the first thing that comes to mind even though it could hurt someone's feelings. We've been having a hard time with this kind of thing with Jayden. When he misbehaves and I speak to him he usually talks back and says something in a harsh tone that is not acceptable in our home. Within a matter of 30 seconds he is then at my leg telling me how sorry he is for using a harsh tone and not using kind words. Yet, in the heat of the moment he can't find it in him to accept that he misbehaved and apologize and change his behavior and attitude.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Do you have any tips? It just started happening within the last month but I am at a loss of what to do!

The God-Given Gift of Voice

2011-01-05T21:44:00.000-05:00

Meet Ted Williams who was an ex-radio announcer who lost his job and became homeless and now has multiple job offers because of what he explains as his God-Given Gift of Voice! What an inspiring story! :)

Blog Roll

2011-01-05T14:02:00.000-05:00

I have noticed that some people have a list of blogs they read on a daily basis. I don't read too many blog but the ones I do read are superb! So here it goes:

Married to a Baller
Erin recently re-design her blog into more of a website/blog. She is an amazing woman of God and is pretty much a superwoman (although she'll probably tell you different)!

Pieces of my Mind
Maria is hands down the most eco-friendly woman I have ever met (we'll we've actually never met but she is a great friend). Knowledge just flows out of her and she always has something good to say!

A Boy, His Girls, And A Big Dog
My friend Leigh always has something comical to say. Her blog is more of a family blog but she's very witty and always makes me laugh (especially since we 1 dog costs the family more then her two children).

Better After
Go ahead and make fun of me but I have always had the desire to re-do furniture. Why? I have no idea. I feel as though since my Dad and brother are both contractors that doing such a thing is just in my blood (Adam begs to differ)!

Equip & Empower
One of my favorite preachers, Christine Caine has a wonderful blog. Her posts are short, sweet yet very powerful. If you have the opportunity to hear her preach, I would advice you to do so!

Those are just a few of the blogs I follow. I will add more to the list in another post. Please share with me some of your favorite blogs!

New Year's Eve 2011

2011-01-03T15:26:00.001-05:00

Welcome to 2011! A year full of hope, faith, love and His word! And remember the best is yet to come :)

Here are a couple pictures from Friday night! We walked downtown and then my Dad cooked an amazing dinner for us (I should also note that Adam was in bed by 11 PM).

How cute is my sister?

Auntie K & Jayden

Parenting: The Wrap-Up

2011-01-03T15:11:00.000-05:00

Well the month of December has passed and I totally slacked on my parenting posts. I hate to make excuses but the stomach bug attacked us twice and of course the holidays are always busy. I did have the chance to write a handful of posts and I hope you enjoyed reading them.

Throughout the month of January I plan to continue sharing with you random thoughts that probably have nothing to do with anything but will help me clear my head and give you an laugh!

On that note, here is a picture of Adam in the eyes of Jayden....

Verse of the Day

2010-12-31T09:27:00.000-05:00

Absolutely love this...

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

As the new year approaches remember that 2010 is now behind us. It is finished, passed us. We cannot change anything that has happened in 2010. We must not waste our valuable time dwelling on something that we wish we could change. We must rejoice in the Lord who will bring us a new dawn, a new day, a new year and a new opportunity! Keep the journey moving forward, knowing that God already has a plan for you and continue to look to Him to help you along the way!

Good-Bye 2010, Hello 2011

2010-12-31T09:10:00.000-05:00

My yearly recap has come. It was fun to look at last years recap today to see how things went differently this year! So here it goes:

December 2009/January 2010: Celebrated the holidays in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey. Signed in Kolobrzeg, Poland on January 2nd.

February 2010: We celebrated Jayden's 3rd birthday with 4 of Adam's teammates and 3 of our new Polish friends in Kolobrzeg.

March 2010: Adam and I tired to help Jayden get rid of his pacifier (this was a huge event in our home) but it failed miserably when some of neighbors yelled at us in Polish. Adam and I both started p90x (he is still doing it, I have taken a break)!

April 2010: The month my amazing sister-in-law and sweet nephew met Jesus. Adam and his family launched the Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Memorial Fund in honor of his beloved sister and nephew.

May 2010: A slow month of all of us. Our hearts were aching and there were many questions left unanswered.

June 2010: Our first JEHH event took place at a local tavern. We raised nearly $8,000! Jayden attended his first summer sports camp and he absolutely loved it! Lastly, my dear friends and family put on the most amazing bridal shower ever!

July 2010: Adam turned 30! I pulled off an amazing surprise birthday party with our close friends and family! We also celebrated Miss. Olivia Turner's 3rd birthday in Richmond, VA!

August 2010: The first JEHH Golf Tournament took place and it was by far the best tournament Mount Snow had ever put on. Adam and I were held hostage when our friends decided to have bachelor and bachelorette parties! Adam went to a NY Yankees game and then to the beach for a night and the girls headed to Atlantic City to soak up the sun and have a great dinner!

September 2010: I married the man of my dreams! It was a beautiful day...

October 2010: Our little man took his first trip to the ER for an injury. He fell of his bed at 3:30 AM and hit his eye on the corner of his end stand. 7 stitches and 1 hour later he was back in his bed fast asleep!

November 2010: Adam decided to take a step back from basketball and train kids while he waited for a better contract to come. I was asked to be apart of the birth of my best mommy friends' 3rd child! We welcomed Jaelyn to the world, it was a magical day!

December 2010: The Harrington household was attacked by the stomach bug twice; once landing me in his hospital. We were able to celebrated the holidays with our family and friends!

That is a quick, not very thought out year in review. This year was struck by a horrible tragedy that we are still learning to deal with. But by the Grace of God I know we will get through it and turn this mess into a message for everyone. I am blessed beyond belief to be in a relationship with Jesus, to be surrounded by an amazing husband, a loving son, great friends and family. I must not never forget that even in the hardest times. Have a happy and safe new year everyone!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T16:12:00.000-05:00

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Thanksgiving. Unlike past years, this Christmas we focused more on the birth of Christ and the season of giving. As a Christian we find it extremely important to teach Jayden the real meaning of Christmas and for a 3 year old living in a commercial centered world that can be challenging. However, the challenge is making us stronger and helping us realize that by the grace of God we are able to teach Jayden the meaning of Christmas before anyone else does.

Adam and I both agreed to purchase a couple gifts for Jayden and the rest of the gifts under the tree would be gifts we were giving to others. So when Christmas morning came around there were plenty of gifts under our tree but only 4 of them were for Jayden. He was absolutely thrilled that Santa thought of him and left him 4 gifts! By limiting the amount of gifts we purchased, he was truly able to enjoy the ones he got instead of opening them to see what it was then tossing it aside to open a new one. I will say that my son may be the only 3 year old that is very interested in clothes. We bought him a new dress-up jacket and he absolutely loved it!

Because we have 2 (or maybe 4, depending how you look at it) sets of divorces parents, the amount of gifts Jayden received from others was still way too much. What are you going to do with those grandparents! Hopefully as the years go on, we can focus more on giving to others in need instead of to each other!

From our family to yours, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and may you have a happy New Year! God Bless!

Christmas 2010

Married to a Baller: New Website Design

2010-12-28T14:52:00.000-05:00

I don't know how many basketwives read my blog but if there are any, I would encourage you to go check out my dear friend Erin's new and improved website. She has a new layout and new feature that focus on connecting people through basketball. One of my favorite features is the google map she has that you can pinpoint where you're going and see if anyone else has played there that is apart of her contact list. It is such a helpful tool as many of you can imagine! Let's give Erin a big thanks for all of the information and resources she continues to provide for us :)

Valuable Lesson: Miss. Rita

2010-12-23T15:00:00.000-05:00

While I was at the hospital I had a "roommate." I couldn't see the sweet old lady but I could hear her. She told one of the nurses that she had no family and just a couple friends. She said that she wouldn't be doing anything for Christmas because she had no one to celebrate with. She had lost her husband 15 years ago and she had gone down hill ever since. Although I was totally out of it I remember saying to myself, I am going to go visit Rita when I feel better.

Yesterday both Jayden and I were feeling better so I told him about Miss. Rita and how we were going to go visit her. He made her a special Christmas card and put together a treat bag. When we arrived at the nursing home he continued to ask questions about who we were going to see yet I didn't really have any answers. We made our way to Rita's room and she was delighted to have a couple visitors. We had a great conversation and I told her how I was her roommate and wanted to visited her after I felt better. Before we left I told her I would be back to visit every month with Jayden. She had tears in her eyes she was so delighted!

When we left Jayden and I talked about people who don't have family, friends, a home or food and he immediately began to thank Jesus for everything he is (it brought a tear to my eye). I am so thankful that we were given the opportunity to meet sweet Rita! Hopefully Jayden can bring a smile to her face and keep bringing pictures to decorate her little room!

The Stomach Bug

2010-12-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

After spending an amazing weekend in New York City Jayden was graciously greeted by a nasty stomach bug early Wednesday morning. I called the doctor who told us he probably picked something up from the city and if he doesn't stop throwing up or going to the bathroom by morning to to call back. He did feel better the next morning but he was extremely tired. On Friday morning I looked at Adam and told him I was beginning to feel ill. Sure enough it hit me like a Mac truck. Ouch! I know myself and I know my body and when Adam got home from doing errands I told him I needed to go to the hospital. Long story short, 4 bags of IV and a few other shots I was finally felt like myself again.

Just when we thought the bug was done, we were wrong. While Adam was with me at the hospital he started to feel ill so he left and sent my Mom to be with me. Sure enough, Adam was at home ill and the next morning I called my Mom and the bug attacked her as well. The count doesn't stop there, but we truly don't know where other family members and friends attracted the bug. Let's just all agree and say it was a nasty bug that I hope to never meet again!

New Winter Activities: Karate & Ice-Skating

2010-12-11T15:51:00.000-05:00

I just wrote a piece about activities and now Jayden has just started two new activities. I should start off by saying, besides gymnastic class in France and dance class in Poland last year, Jayden has never been in a "class" here in the United States. The things Jayden would love to do I feel like he does them on a daily basis anyways; go to the gym with Daddy, playing basketball, baseball and soccer. All of which he does weekly with Adam at the gym. So if I was going to sign him up for something, it would not be one of those sports right now. Instead, I looked into karate and ice-skating.

I am going to just put it out there that Jayden is incredibly coordinated and uncoordinated at the same time. Is that even possible? For example, his hand-eye coordination blows me away. However, he could trip over a dust ball. I just don't get it. So I decided that between karate and ice-skating he could really work on his overall coordination. This morning we ventured out to his first karate lesson and he absolutely loved it. He got right into the action and he did exactly what the instructor told him to do. When the class was over he told me next week he had to wear "one of those white outfits and bring a sport bag to put it in."

After karate we went to "Learn to Skate" at the local skating rink. I had a feeling it was going to be a disaster because again, Jayden can't walk without tripping or falling down. Much to my surprise, he did great despite looking like a cute baby giraffe on stilts! It took him a while to move a couple feet but he did it and was very proud of himself. After it was over he told me he wanted to come back next week and thankfully my mother agree to strap on some skates and help him out a little more (God bless her soul).

How cute is my niece, Addison?

My little giraffe!

Parenting: Activity

2010-12-10T10:35:00.000-05:00

Let's face it, preschool aged children are very active and in my eyes it is important that they are active on a daily basis. At such an age they are interested in exploring and finding out their limits. Therefore, scheduled active time is a must. Indoors or outdoors, there are activities that can keep your children active and happy at the same time.

Jayden is very, very active. He has more energy then I know what to do with at times. Therefore, being active inside and outdoors is something I try to schedule everyday. During the spring and summer months we spend the majority of our time outdoor. During the fall and winter, it isn't as easy to spend much time outdoors because it is so cold (Jayden is not a fan of the cold). So to keep his activity level high we bring his basketball hoop indoors, a few softer balls and his scooter. Yes I know, probably not things that should be allowed indoors but we make it an exception in our home.

Below are some of the indoor activities we do to let out some energy:

1. Basketball Games. Yes, we have some heated games in our home. It usually ends up with Jayden and Adam both winning and Mommy losing.

2. Balloon Game. It sounds silly but a single balloon can offer at least 30 minutes of fun. Try to keep the balloon from touching the ground as long as you can. It really takes some effort and ends with lots of laughs.

3. Beanbag Toss. We have a small Cars beanbag games that Jayden just loves. It isn't anything too sophisticated but it does offer lots of fun.

4. Scooter. Again, probably not house appropriate but we do allow Jayden to ride his scooter around the house, mostly in the kitchen. He isn't harming anything and he is getting his legs moving.

5. Dance Parties. Go ahead and laugh but truth be told we have some awesome dance parties in our home. If anyone has seen Jayden dance you can understand why having a simple dance party can let out some serious energy.

Of course there are many less "active" activities that we do on a daily basis but that's for a different post. If your have the pre-winter blues indoors, try some of these activities. It will let our some much needed energy!

Parenting: SLEEP

2010-12-08T15:34:00.000-05:00

So why would I have "SLEEP" on the top of my parenting list? Well that's because in our house sleep in a very (and I can't stress that enough) important part of our everyday lives. Jayden's behavior is directly effected by the amount of sleep he gets, the quality of sleep and how long of a nap he gets each day. I will be 110% honest and tell you that when Jayden doesn't nap, he might make it until 6 PM without having a complete meltdown over something.

On to a quick version of Jayden's sleep schedule since birth...
From the day we brought Jayden home from the hospital he has been a great sleeper. He only woke up at night when he needed a diaper change or wanted to be fed. He certainly slept between 18-20 hours a day in the first weeks. People were amazed how much he slept. Jayden would nap/sleep anywhere. During Adam's games, at a restaurant, on the couch and in my arms. Around 4 months old, Adam had decided that he really needed to be napping in his crib and be on a solid schedule. Well Jayden had a different idea, he liked to nap wherever he fell asleep. So one day Adam told me it was time to let him "cry it out" in his crib until he soothed himself to sleep. 55 minutes later, a million tissues and an expensive phone bill (I called my mom to talk to me while he was crying) he had fallen asleep. It was from that day on that I swear Jayden learned that nap time and bed time were two things that were going to happen everyday.

Skip a few months and between the age of about 6 months to 12 months Jayden would take 2 long naps a day. Around 14 months old, Jayden switched to one very long nap in the middle of the day. Skip 2 more years and today, Jadyen still takes a 90 minute to 2 hour nap every day. There are very special days when a nap doesn't fit into the schedule, however, that happens maybe once a month and he is then in bed by 7 PM because he is so tired.

For a couple years now, we have made 8 PM an appropriate bed time for Jayden. Because I don't work and Adam has a pretty flexible schedule, we never have to be out of the house or up before 8 AM. With working parents, I know some kids who are up and ready to go by 7 AM. At this age and younger, I feel that 10 to 12 hours in an appropriate amount of sleep for a child. Therefore, if you have an earlier riser, put him/her to bed earlier.

Now that you know what the daily sleep routine is in the Harrington household I have to admit that I whole-heartedly believe that as parents it is our duty to sleep train our children. It may sound silly but its the truth. We have taught our children how to eat, play, speak and listen so why do some parents skip on teaching children healthy sleep patterns? When parents and children are overtired a lot of tension can build up. In order to prevent that, we must take a step back and realize what is best for our children... even if that means letting them cry for 55 straight minutes (gosh, that was the longest 55 minutes of my life I think)!

If you are looking for a good book to read check out, "Healthy Sleep Habits; Happy Child." I wrote about the book a while back, check it out!

Parenting: Discipline

2010-12-05T16:13:00.000-05:00

As parents, we must all realize that children are a gift from God. A gift that can be taken away from you at any time, a gift that comes with extreme responsibility and a gift that should be raised with discipline. It is our duty to lay out the blueprint for the rest of their life.

There are many different ways to discipline your child/children and each child reacts to discipline differently. For example, raising my voice at Jayden does absolutely nothing. It almost makes matters worse. However, if I drop down to his level and use a calm voice he responds much more positively (although sometimes it's harder on me I try to remember how is reacts when I yell).

It is important to realize what the bible says about discipline and how to put it in to action properly and effectively. We must not let the desires of our children control their behavior. For example, if they want to watch television instead of doing their chores, you are not doing them a favor or being their friend by allowing to watch television instead of taking care of responsibilities. Allowing them to skip their responsibilities daily will create a pattern of laziness that could last a very long time.

In our home, discipline is not taken lightly. There are special occasions when we let behavior slide a little but we try not to make it a weekly thing. Adam and I both try to use consistent discipline techniques. Therefore, whether Jayden is with Adam or I, the rules are still the same. We also try to be the best role models we can. I am surprised how much information and action Jayden can retain at such a young age.

As I mentioned earlier, every child reacts to discipline differently. Below are a few things Adam and I have concluded about Jayden at this point in life:

1. Jayden gets extremely embarrassed when he gets disciplined in public. When Jayden needs to be discipline for acting inappropriately or not following the rules, we tend to bring Jayden away from the crowd. It is much more effective and he reacts much better.

2. Jayden's poor behavior usually stems for one of two things; hunger and being tired. Therefore, it is our duty to make sure he is feed and gets rest when he needs it.

3. We correct Jayden when he is wrong or misbehaves but it is so important that Jayden hears our encouraging words and praise daily. Jayden loves being praised. I really feel like he feels like he is succeeding when he is praised.

4. And lastly, when Adam is out of town Jayden's behavior takes a hit. I still haven't figured out exactly why it's still a work in progress. But I have to remind myself that I need to be both the father figure and mother figure when Adam is out of town. Jayden responds very well to men and I need to remember that.

As Christians it is importantly to realize that an undisciplined child is dishonoring the Lord and His word. Some people may feel like we are too hard on Jayden but in our eyes we are being loving and responsible parents, raising a child on the word of the Lord.

Parenting: Preparing Your Child to Leave

2010-12-03T16:01:00.000-05:00

To some this might come across as a controversial post but I truly feel it is a key part in parenting.

Very bluntly, Adam and I are preparing Jayden to leave our home. There are many different ways to take that sentence but to me, basically I am saying that when it comes time to go to college, Lord-willing, we have raised our son to be prepared and ready to live on his own.

There is no better verse in the bible that explains my point then Proverbs 22:6:

Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

The verse above says exactly what I am trying to say. As a family, we are all on a journey with Jesus. We are continuously teaching our son the importance of living by His command and acting as role models. If we can strongly instill in Jayden's heart the word of the Lord then by the time he leaves our home there is no doubt in my mind that Jayden will succeed in whatever he does. He will be mentally and spiritually prepared for whatever lies ahead of him.

On a different note, everyone has different parenting techniques, that's obvious. However, when I see mothers just hovering over their children I begin to think what would happen if for one day their mother couldn't be there for them. It sounds silly but I am pretty sure we've all seen it happen. As Jayden gets older, I find myself being a more relaxed parent. I allow him to do as much as he can on his own without getting hurt. I am thankful that I am able to be a stay-at-home Mother but when the time comes and I have to enter the work force I want to be at ease knowing that I have prepared my son to leave the house without worrying.

To all my basketwives & girlfriends!

2010-12-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

Is it silly to say that I am happy I am no longer a basket-girlfriend/fiancee and finally a basketwife? HA!

Anywho, my dear friend Erin has once again thought of an ingenious idea. Basically she is a creating a massive list of country contacts. As you can see in her "Calling All Basket Wives and Girlfriends!" post she already has 27 contacts who combined have played in 122 different cities. For anyone who has lived overseas, this truly is a special list. It is always nice to have other wives on the team but it is even nicer to know someone who has lived there before. The gift of sharing is a great thing!

If there are any wives or girlfriends that read this blog that would like more information or to have your information pass on to Erin, please let me know. You can also email her directly at erin@marriedtoaballer.com.

Parenting: Teaching Your Children About Jesus

2010-12-01T14:43:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, Adam and I try to base our parenting solely on the bible and surrounding Jesus. We both began out walk when Jayden was 2 years old, so it is still a learning experience for the both of us. As we continue to study the bible and live a worthy life there are a number of things we do daily.

1. Reading Scriptures. Reading from the Scripture daily helps as a way to bring about discussions or questions from Jayden. Sometimes it is only a verse but we always talk about what the verse is saying and say a pray after it. I pray that by doing this it will help Jayden's spiritual growth and provide the information he needs to understand His grace, life and how He died for our sins.

2. Give Thanks. Children soak in more information and behavior then we think. I make it a point to give thanks to the Lord not only at meal times but when our prayers have been answered as well. On the flip side of this, when we say our prayers together at night and our prayers are not answered right away, I make sure that we both give thanks because Jesus is still listening to us and guiding us in the right direction.

3. Praise and Worship. Praise and worship plays a huge part in our daily lives. While we are home or in the car some type of Christian music or a sermon is playing. It amazes me how many songs Jayden knows word for word. The music really gets into Jayden's heart and I can see him feeling the words he is singing. He may not know exactly what the lyrics mean but it will eventually spark questions.

4. Authority. As some of my facebook friends can see, Jayden feels that since Daddy is on the road, he is in charge. Adam and I are both learning to teach Jayden that there is someone even bigger and better then both Adam and I: Jesus. Jesus is the "boss" in our home. He is who we answer to everyday. This will help Jayden understand that even when he leaves our home when he is older, there is still someone he needs to answer to and obey.

5. Prayer. Teaching Jayden to pray has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding things we've ever done. Let's be honest, I am still learning how to pray. By teaching Jayden how to pray, he is establishing a direct line of communication to God. He is beginning his own personal journey with the Lord and his prayers are truly coming form his heart and how he is feeling.

These are just some of things we practice on a daily basis and they are all a work in progress but I wholeheartedly believe this is and should be the foundation of parenting. I will leave you with a passage from Deuteronomy which acknowledges the fact that as Christians it is our duty to teach our children about Jesus.

"Impress them on your children. Talk about then when you sit at home and when you walk along, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." -Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Welcome, Jaelyn!

2010-11-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I never gave Miss. Jaelyn Lee Boliski a proper introduction!

On November 9th I went to visit one of my most amazing friends in the hospital as she began her induction. As the day went on I continued to be by her side as she fought through her contractions. As time approached for the arrival, Ace had asked me to stay in the room to be with her while she delivered. I was so honored and overwhelmed with joy! I knew it was gong to be a long night so I decided I better grab sometime to eat and see Adam and Jayden real quick before they headed home for bed. On my way back to the hospital her husband texted me and said, "You better get here NOW!" I sprinted into the hospital and shortly after a 9 pound .25 ounce baby girl was born!

She truly is a gift from God. Eric and Ace have 2 other children but both were born via in vitro after many years of trying. Baby Jaelyn was conceived without any medication and she is a happy and healthy baby girl! I am so happy for the Boliski family and I wish them nothing but happiness!

That's a wrap!

2010-11-29T14:20:00.000-05:00

Can you believe that Thanksgiving has already passed and November 2010 is coming to an end? It feels like Labor Day was just last weekend!

I slacked a little on my "Give Thanks" posts but I covered the major areas in life for which I am thankful for. It is funny to look back to see how it varied from last years "What I am thankful for."

For the month of December I am going to focus on parenting techniques, tips, tricks and lessons learned. I was (and still am) so thankful for the few woman in my life that gave me advice while living overseas with Jayden and having a husband that doesn't have the typical 9-5 job. My goal is to pass on helpful information to anyone who reads this blog.

Here's to December :)

Give Thanks: Life

2010-11-24T13:43:00.000-05:00

Plain and simple, I am thankful to wake up everyday getting another chance at life!

Verse of the Day

2010-11-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

During the thanksgiving holiday we must remember that we are entering a time to give, a time to be thankful and a time to honor the Lord. If you are feeling a little lost, don't forget that God is faithful and that no more how long it takes you, God will wait for you to come to him. Not only will he wait for you but he is ready.

Give Thanks: Friends

2010-11-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

I am so very thankful for my friends. I have spent a lot of time within the last couple years realizing who are my true friends and who are acquaintances. There have been times that I have felt like an outsider as I continue on my walk with Christ and some of my friends go the complete opposite direction. Have I lost some friends along the way, of course. That's life but at the end of the day I continue to count my blessing for having amazing friends and thank God for having enough time left in life to make more!

HillsongNYC: December Update

2010-11-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

To all my New Yorkers check out what is going on with HillsongNYC in the month of December! All my single friends that claim that can't meet anyone in New York, you don't want to miss December 7th at the Brooklyn Bowl. It will be the first step in finding yourself a nice Christian man!

Give Thanks: My Family

2010-11-18T09:48:00.000-05:00

I have the most amazing family and I even married into a pretty cool family as well (God bless those people that do not get along with their in-laws). I am so thankful for each and every member of my family for they each contribute to a part of who I am today. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't talk to my Mom and get a text from my sister or a phone call from my brother. It is amazing how the older you get the stronger the relationship with your siblings become.

Wall Art

2010-11-16T14:51:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Leigh and her family had given us one of the coolest wedding gifts ever. It's a piece of wall art that says, Adam & Kearstin Harrington September 4, 2010. Each letter in the name Harrington is actually a picture! I absolutely love it. I've been pondering what to do with it since I wanted it to go somewhere where everyone would see it. However, I am absolutely no decorating sense; at all! So instead of thinking too hard about it I ordered some picture frames from Pottery Barn and decided to hang a few photos and the wall art in our living room. I am thrilled with the look of it (minus the 3/4 of an inch one picture frame is off).

Give Thanks: My Church Family

2010-11-15T08:43:00.000-05:00

I won't get into too much detail but I am so thankful for my church family. It is just an amazing feeling knowing that no matter what is going on in your life you can always turn to your church family. Raising a family and being around people that share the same core values as you makes life much easier! I am and will forever be thankful for all of our Christian friends that continue to help me on my walk with Jesus.

Celebration of Life

2010-11-15T08:36:00.001-05:00

This weekend we made our way down to Cape Cod to celebrate Adam's grandfather, the late Ernest Dubois. It was a gorgeous weekend and there was plenty of love that filled the air. It was obvious that Ernest had a great sense of humor and was very well-liked from the poems and speeches by all of his children. As the day went on and we continued to be surrounded by family and a few close friends, I realized that life is such an amazing gift given by God and we must treat it just as that; it must be appreciated in good times and bad and taken care of all day, everyday.

The JEHH Holiday Raffle

2010-11-15T08:15:00.002-05:00

The holidays are approaching and the Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Holiday Raffle has started! Two amazing prizes are up for grab including a Costa Rica Getaway and an NBA Fantasy Night.

The 2nd prize is an NBA Fantasy Night which includes:

A night to remember! Your NBA fantasy comes true when you sit in Mark Cuban’s owners seats at the Mavericks vs. Celtics game. Enjoy VIP parking before the game and a hotel room in downtown Boston after the game. Your experience doesn’t stop there as you stay in post game section and enjoy a meet & greet with Dirk Nowitzki. So bring your camera and enjoy this NBA night in Boston, MA.

Mark Cuban’s 2 Owner’s Tickets to the Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics Game on February 4th, 2011 @8:00pm in Boston, MA
One Night Hotel Accommodation in Boston, MA
VIP Celtics Parking
Authentic Jason Kidd Signed Dallas Mavericks Jersey
2 Post Game Passes
A meet & greet with NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki

The Grand Prize is a Costa Rica Getaway which includes:

Sit back, relax, and prepare to be in this all –inclusive paradise for 4 days. A trip for 2 to an amazing sustainable rainforest Eco-Lodge Hotel, Finca Luna Nueva, in Costa Rica, for 4 days, 3 nights including:

Round-trip airfare from anywhere in the Continental US
Shuttle to and from airport
Overnight accommodations at Casa Luna or Bungalows
Breakfast included
Use of the natural swimming Pool and Jacuzzi
One farm tour around Finca Luna Nueva Hotel
Activities available for purchase

Add lunch and dinner for only $27 per person per night (taxes and service not included)
Value: $4,800
Trip valid: January 2011- September 2011.
*Dates subject to availability.

What great prizes! Tickets are $25 each and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the JEHH Memorial Fund. For those that usually give to charities as a christmas gift, please remember us! For more details, check out our new and improved website!

Give Thanks: My Bible

2010-11-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

It may sound silly but I am so thankful for my bible. Whenever I need pick me up or have some alone time the first thing I do is kick back and grab my bible. The bible instantly changes my mood and spirit and by the Grace of God that "not so good day" becomes great. His words inspire me to be a better person, friend, wife, mother, to be obedient and keep my faith strong. The bible and constant prayer reminds me that the Word of God is the only thing in this world that will guide me home.

New York City & the Marathon

2010-11-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows Adam and I are spontaneous people. There is no pulling my leg in order to get me to do something fun and exciting. So on Saturday late-afternoon we jumped into the car and headed to New York City for the night to celebrate our dear friend, Carl's birthday. He had no idea we were coming so he was excited when we all showed up (Jayden too)! It only took us 2 hours to get to New York but once we started heading into the city the traffic was crazy. We had not known that the New York City Marathon was on Sunday. Therefore add together regular New York City traffic plus 2 million extra people coming into the city just to watch/run the marathon and that counts for a lot of cars. But on Sunday morning it was totally worth it. We walked to a near by cafe which was located on the route of the marathon so we were able to cheer for the handicap, the lead pack of the woman and the lead pack of the men. It was amazing to see how fast they were running. I promise you, the lead pack of men were running faster then my sprint! What a cool day to be in New York City!

I am sure there are many inspirational stories about people running marathons. One that caught my eye this morning was about a man who had just been trapped in a mine in Chile for 69 days. Can you even imagine trying to run in a marathon after being trapped in a mine for 69 days when the most he had run was 7 miles before? It sound unreal but he did it and he was felt very honored and proud! Check out on short story on him by MNN.

Give Thanks: Our son, Jayden

2010-11-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

There are so many people in this world that long to have a family but for one reason or another it just doesn't happen. So today (and everyday) I am thankful for our healthy, full-of-life, ambitious, smart and witty son Jayden.

Jayden is just a joy to be around. He had a great attitude about life and I continue to thank God for giving our family such an amazing blessing. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't count my blessings twice when I get to Jayden; he is the light of our life!

October 2010

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

2010-11-08T13:51:00.000-05:00

Today is a special day! My mother brought my big brother into the world 28 years ago! My relationship with my brother today is the best it has ever been. Being 4 years older then me, we always missed each other in the school system (thank goodness because we didn't always see eye to eye). But now, we are both happy to have a sibling you can count on!

Happy Birthday Big Bro!

Website: The JEHH Memorial Fund

2010-11-05T16:04:00.001-04:00

It is my pleasure to announce to you that The JEHH Memorial Fund website is up and running. After a minor bump in the road we were introduced to Ameronix and it has been a pleasure working with them.

Please check us out! We appreciate all your support and feedback! And don't forget to "Chase your dreams!"

Jill & I in Limoges, France 2008

Give Thanks: My Husband

2010-11-05T10:27:00.000-04:00

#2: I am thankful for my Godly husband who is faithful, gracious and wise. He is a strong man of God who continues to amaze me with his love, dedication to life and his ever-growing relationship with Jesus.

I am more thankful for my husband now than I've ever been. I will continue to honor and serve my husband the way God has called me to do.

To all the wives reading this, I encourage you to read Proverbs 31:10-30. Re-read it if you have to and let it soak in!

Happy 2 Months

2010-11-04T21:55:00.001-04:00

I would like to wish my amazing husband a happy 2 months of marriage!

Everyday, Thanksgiving Day

2010-11-04T21:44:00.001-04:00

Last November I wrote about being thankful and followed up by writing one thing I was thankful for for the remainder of the month. As I look to a year ago, I had to remind myself that as a Christian I need to treat everyday like Thanksgiving Day. I must give thanks to the Lord during the great times and especially in the midsts of a problem for it is then when I find myself truly growing as a Christian. So even though I find myself giving thanks to God throughout the day, I will finish the month with some of the things I am most thankful for.

#1: I am thankful for God who made the ultimate sacrifice to free us from our sinful nature. For God loved us so much that He gave His only son so we may live.

Recipe: Turkey Meatloaf

2010-11-02T14:34:00.000-04:00

I made this dish for the first time last night. I couldn't think of anything good to make so I decided to jump out of the box and try something I've never made before. According to Adam and our neighbor friend, it was a huge hit (and the kicker, it was super easy)! I served it with potatoes and a fresh salad.

Turkey Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

1.25 lbs of lean ground turkey
1/3 cup of italian dressing
1/4 cup of barbecue sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl until well mixed. Press into bread load. Sprinkle a few extra bread crumbs on top and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until top is nice and brown.

HillsongNYC: Update

2010-11-01T15:02:00.001-04:00

Here is the lastest update from our pastor, Carl Lentz. He talks about how the church is going to continue to do monthly services until February so more relationships are built. They are not in it to "win the battle" but to "win the war." Watch out NYC :)

The Deal of the Century

2010-11-01T09:58:00.000-04:00

People continuously ask me why I use coupons and buy Louis Vuitton bags. Well I've said it once and I'll say it before, Louis Vuitton does not go on sale people! I need to get my sale somewhere!

So here it goes; my deal of the century.

I went to JCPenny's on Saturday while the boys took a nap to get a pillow for Adam. Well they didn't have the pillow I was looking for so I walked around to see of there was anything else worth buying. I walked into the big boys section to see if there were any summer clothes on sale for next summer. I ran into this one section that was 80% off the entire rack. They had the cutest boy shirts, some shorts, etc. I picked one up and it was mark $.97! I couldn't believe it. The shirts were originally $13.99 and they were on sale for $.97! I kept looking and before I knew it I had 9 shirts and a pair of skinny jeans in my arms for Jayden.

I walked up to the register with my 9 shirts and a pair of jeans, along with my 15% off total purchase coupon and my free $10 off $10 coupon from the mail and ended up paying $1.60 for everything. Yes, I said it correctly; I paid 1 dollar and 60 cents for 9 shirts and a pair of jeans. Uh-amazing, ey?

Verse of the Day

2010-10-31T14:00:00.000-04:00

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. -Peter 5:8-9

As Christians we must remember that the devil is for real. The devil will try to pull you off course when you're weak and try to direct your focus off of Jesus. Instead of focusing on trying to always do the right thing we must continue to keep our focus on Jesus. By doing so, we will have no other temptations to look a different way. Always remember who is in control; God.

One little, two little, three little stitches...

2010-10-26T20:49:00.000-04:00

Four little, five little, six little stitches... Seven little...

Yes, it's true. Our little man has 7 little stitches above his left eye.

It all started on Saturday night around 3:30 AM when I heard a thud and then a loud painful cry. I went into Jayden's room to see that he had fallen out of his bed. I comforted him and told him he was fine (I figure he was just scared) and then he continued to cry so I moved his hand which was covering his face and noticed his entire left side of his face was covered in blood. From his hair line to dripping off his check onto his clothes. Adam immediately jumped out of bed as I screamed his name and took Jayden into the bathroom to clean him up. What I was hoping to see was just a little scratch that was going to stop bleeding once we put some pressure on it. However, what we saw was a gash the length of his entire eyebrow that was thick and deep.

We hopped into the car and made our way to the emergency room. Our very first trip to the emergency room due to injury (spent the night in the ER in France due to a stomach virus). We arrived at the hospital at 3:45 AM and was immediately taken to a room and the nurse quickly got everything ready. As soon as the doctor came in he knew he needed to get ready for some stitches and that's when I left the room. Adam said Jayden did great, only cried when he saw the needle. Believe it or not, we were home by 4:30 AM. I hear all these horror stories about waiting in the emergency room for hours upon hours. Thankfully that didn't happen to us! As soon as we arrived back home, Jayden went right to bed and asked if next time he goes to the hospital if I could call the ambulance to pick him up instead of Daddy driving him. I then told him I hope to never go back there again!

Videos of the Week

2010-10-25T08:20:00.002-04:00

There are two videos I would like to share with ya'll this week. The first one, my dear friend Erin shared on her blog under the title "Identity Crisis." Please check it out. Deanna Favre talks about how her faith is getting her through her current family troubles.

The next video is a glimpse of the first night of encounter for HillsongNYC. The short video gives you an incredible feeling that God is really moving and the people of HillsongNYC are really starting to build a faithful church in His name. To God be the Glory!

Please note: you can totally see Adam and I in the front row during the praise and worship part of the video. Adam is a complete rockstar!

Healthy Diet: Black Bean Salad

2010-10-20T15:49:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, Adam has decided to go on an even more strict diet than he is currently on. I actually don't know how that is even possible but I guess that means no cheat days and much more fruits and vegetables. The problem I have noticed thus far is that he needs to eat at least every 90 minutes because he can not seem to eat enough to feel full. So I have been trying my hardest to help him with his new diet.

Every Tuesday we invite our friends over to taco tuesday. I use chicken instead of beef, wheat tortillas and low-fat cheese. But still, Adam didn't want the tortillas or the cheese so I looked up a recipe and found a great black bean salad. He had the black bean salad and added some chicken and a little rice on top to create a taco salad. Enjoy the recipe!

Black Bead Salad

Black beans are a delicious staple of Central and South American cuisine—they fill you up without filling you out. This black bean salad with a decidedly Southwestern flair is quick and easy to make, high in protein and fiber, low in fat and calories, and tasty as all get-out.

2 15-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained (or 3 cups freshly cooked black beans)
1-1/2 cups frozen corn, defrosted
1 small red bell pepper, seeds and stem removed, chopped
1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
The juice of 2 medium limes (about 1/4 cup)

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and enjoy! Makes 6 servings.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

HillsongNYC

2010-10-19T10:10:00.002-04:00

There are no words to explain the weekend we had in New York City. It was the most incredible, fulfilling weekend I have ever experienced in my life.

To give a little background, it goes like this. After years of not having any communication, Adam and his college room/teammate Carl Lentz had began to talk again. They have one of those friendships that years could pass by but when they're together again it's like a day has passed. At the time, Carl and his wife Laura, were pastors at Wavechurch in VA Beach. But since then Carl and Laura have been called to New York City by God to plant a church. They have teammate up Hillsong (a thriving church that has many locations throughout Europe) to start HillsongNYC.

It has been an amazing ride thus far but on Sunday night it was their first night of Encounter; the official launch of HillsongNYC. Over 5,000 people gather for 3 different services at the Salvation Army Center in Union Square. The atmosphere was amazing. God was certainly moving! People joked about us staying and being there for all 3 services but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I met some of the most amazing, kind-hearted people to walk this earth. Their love filled the air and their love for Jesus and desire to have an impact on a city that many people don't know which direction their walking in is so strong.

November 14th is their next Encounter night. It is in your best interested to be there! Fly, drive, ride the train! Whatever it takes... be there.

Professional Photos: Jayden

2010-10-15T14:03:00.000-04:00

I love professional photos. The crisp look of the pictures and the clarity of the pictures when they are printed is just amazing. Adam's cousin's wife is a photographer and she took some pictures of Jayden the other day (when they missed their flight back to CA and had a few extra hours to play). Here is the link to a few of the photos.

Enjoy!

Photographer: Jodi Foucher, San Francisco, CA

Expressions

2010-10-14T09:07:00.000-04:00

If you were to spend more than 2 hours with Jayden you would quickly realize he is a man of many expressions and voices. He has his player voice and then his deep, old man coach voice and his facial expressions go along with his voices. I swear the child could act.

While we were at the Cape this weekend we were sitting outside and Jayden decided it would be fun to take silly pictures with different faces. Here is a glimpse of what the Harrington's do for fun!

Beauty & Confidence

2010-10-06T21:58:00.001-04:00

I saw a commercial today that really caught my attention. Basically it was about a woman who walked into a room with little confidence and said, "I'm here" and then another girl walked in full of confidence and said, "Here I am" (insert sexy, confident tone). Both girls were very pretty but you could see they way the second woman presented herself she had confidence in who she was.

During my walk with Jesus I have become much more confident in who I am as a person and with my looks. For starters, God does not focus on my appearance but rather what my heart feels and my inner beauty is what is important to Him (1 Samuel 16:7). Secondly, as simple as it may sound, Adam makes me feel absolutely beautiful. So as God is strengthening my inner beauty and Adam is strengthening my appearance, I am more confident in myself today then I've ever been.

Are they're days that I am not a fan of my hair, my skin or my body? Of course. But I have learned that when that happens I need to take my focus off my appearance and focus my eyes on the Lord. For my top priorities do not lie on my looks but on God, my husband and our son. The Bible does tell us that it is important to present ourselves nicely but not to take it to the extreme.

With that being said, my friend of mine told me a little story about herself. She is a professional make-up artists, yet she rarely ever wears make-up. I asked her why since she is so good at what she does and she said it was simple; she replied, "Why would I spend time putting on make-up every day when I can use that time reading my bible or spending alone time with the Lord?" She continued to say, "I wear make-up about once a week or once every other week and that's when I have date night with my husband. I love getting all dolled up for him on date night so I feel super glamorous for him and only him!" She made perfect sense. And I've been following her lead for a few weeks now and I love it. I don't wear much make-up anyways but now I skip all the make-up and save it for date night; a special night with the love of my life.

Verse of the Day

2010-10-04T10:19:00.000-04:00

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. -Proverbs 27:1

How many of us take something for granted today that isn't guaranteed tomorrow? I have a hard time taking care of things I can today and not be distracted of what needs to be done tomorrow or the next week. Let's make a pack to enjoy our walk with God today and trust in his faith that He will take care of tomorrow.

Marriage Tip #1: Date Night

2010-10-02T15:17:00.001-04:00

Look at me writing about marriage tips when we haven't even been married for a month yet! After 5 years with someone and 4 years living with them, you kinda get to know what works in a relationship and what doesn't. And one thing that will always work is date night.

After having Jayden, Adam and I didn't go on date night very often. I nursed Jayden for his first year of life so at times I felt like I wasn't able to leave his side for more than a couple hours (I didn't have enough supply to pump and I wasn't willing to supplement with formula when I could simply go home and feed him). But since Jayden has grown and Adam and I have worked on what keeps our relationship as strong as possible, we have made a pack to establish a bi-weekly date night. It is my favorite time of the month. Now date night doesn't have to be anything too special like a fancy dinner and dancing; for Adam and I it usually consists of dinner and maybe a little shopping at Pottery Barn or Target (I know, we're really cool). But there are those times we like to get dolled up and hit the town!

Last night Adam and I went to see Barefoot Truth in concert. They were amazing! Great music, great vibe and even better lyrics. We had such a great time! Check them out!

So the moral to this post is to schedule a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly date night. Keep the spark in your marriage alive. Get away from the children and enjoy your husband or wife!

Tantrum & Sucking: Hand in Hand?

2010-09-30T14:30:00.001-04:00

For Jayden, yes. For others, I don't know. However, it is one thing I've learned that plays a huge part in our everyday life.

Anyone who has read my blog, knows Jayden's struggle with his pacifier. Since we left Poland we've been very strict with it that he only has it when he is in his bed for nap or bed time. However, what he has been doing (which I haven't really noticed until yesterday) is when he gets very upset or misbehaves he goes into his room and calms himself down with a pacifier. But when I open the door to go talk to him about his behavior, he hides it. So to me, I have been thinking he has been doing a great job with his emotions and calming himself down until he is ready to talk about it. Wrong!

Long story short, yesterday we had a playdate with one of my best Mommy friends and her little girl who will be 3 in November. Jayden was not on his best behavior; not sharing very well, not using soft and kind words and complaining that he was hungry, then thirsty, then hungry (which I knew he wasn't because he had just had breakfast). I had had it with his behavior and the meltdown began. Fast forward 40 minutes and as he was sitting on the stairs, in timeout, trying to calm himself down he had asked me to get the playing cards he had brought with him from home. I gave him 1 playing card and he began to suck on it almost like a pacifier. I was shocked. He had sucked on it so hard the corner had come off. I have come to the conclusion that Jayden has a VERY, VERY hard time calming himself down without sucking on something. He works himself up so much that he can't get down without sucking.

Jayden hasn't had a tantrum in months. He has probably only had 4 tantrums since we left Poland and everything they've been over is something silly; wanting his pacifier, not wanting to wash his hair in the bath, wanting to stay at the gym while Daddy is working out and lastly, wanting to finish the movie "Air Buddies" instead of going home. Silly, eh? But from this day forward, actually since yesterday, I will NOT give in to Jayden's pacifier. I think it is a valuable lesson and important for him to learn how to calm himself down naturally and on his own. I'll let you know how it goes if another tantrum comes up (which I hope it does not)!

Morning Sign-In: J-A-Y-D-E-N

2010-09-28T15:31:00.000-04:00

For 2 weeks now, Jayden has been going to Ja'Duke preschool. He went last year around the same time a couple days a week before we headed to Poland. As our busy summer has finally ended, Adam and I both decided it was best for Jayden to go back to preschool at Ja'Duke until we figure out Adam's next move. Jayden absolutely loves it there and we are happy with our decision.

And hear comes the sad part.

Adam and I trade mornings driving Jayden to school. I tend to just put his stuff away, say good-bye and leave (I am not one of those Mom's who hang around for 30 minutes). On Friday, Adam and I were dropping him off and I heard the teacher tell Jayden he needed to "sign-in on the morning board." I looked at Adam and was mortified because I know he can't write his name. He certainly knows how to spell it as he screams it perfectly at the top of his lungs when anyone asks but I haven't worked on his writing all summer (bad Mother, I know). So I sat back and watched. He tried so hard to make letters, which he thought spelt Jayden but looked more like six circle-things. I was literally almost in tears. He is in the 4 to 5 year old classroom so he is the youngest one in his class but still. So needless to say, I am determined to help Jayden learn how to write his name sooner than later. In 2 days, he has learned the J - A - and Y. I am hoping by the end of the week he'll be a pro!

What do YOU think is an appropriate age for a child to learn to write their name?

My Favorite Items: Baking Soda

2010-09-26T21:53:00.000-04:00

Who would've thought baking soda has become one of my favorite products?

Confession: I have awful skin. And I mean awful. I believe I wrote a similar post about my skin and my current treatments (however, I can't find it) but after visiting numerous dermatologists, using a handful of different medications daily and becoming so sensitive to sun that it hurt to be outside for more than an hour I threw in the towel. I literally threw away every medication I owned and broke a few frustration tears at the same time. It was then when I decide to go for a more alternative route; baking soda.

For about 5 weeks now I have been showering was baking soda. I make a thick paste and use it all over my body. Until this past week it has worked wonders. I have never been so happy to go for a more alternative and natural route in my life. Besides, .48 cents for a carton it is great on the wallet! Hopefully I can give you another update in about 3 more weeks telling you I've made more progress!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Andrus!

2010-09-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

The wedding season has finally come to an end (thank goodness)! Our dear friends Matt and Kasia finally tied the knot this weekend and we are so happy for them. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Andrus!

Adam was honored to be part of their wedding and of course looked fabulous as usual!

Clean Drinking Water

2010-09-21T15:24:00.000-04:00

Who ever thought we would live in a world where there are hundreds of thousands of people without clean drinking water. I am not going to go into too much detail but I will introduce you to two people who will provide you with details; Maria Wegner-Johnson and Joel Houston.

Maria has been training to run a half marathon in November and has decided to dedicate her run to Living Water International. As a part of that, she is raising money for them. If you would like to help Maria reach her goal and help Living Water International, please donate here.

Joel Houston is a friend of Adam's and the lead singer of Hillsong United. On behave of his 30th birthday, he has also set up a fund that will give 100% of your donations to help bring clean drinking water to people in Central African Republic. Again, any donation will help. If you would like to help, please donate here.

I ask you today, to give thanks to God as you sit back and drink, shower, wash dishes and do laundry in clean water. Be thankful.

Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

2010-09-20T14:01:00.000-04:00

It has been at least 3 months since I sat down and wrote a weekly menu and then went to the food store to get what we needed. It felt great this morning to sit down with the flyers, clip coupons and make our weekly menu. I have to share with you our meal for tonight because it was one Adam's favorites and possibly the easiest recipe, ever.

Broccoli Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

2 Cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 1/2 Cup Instant Rice

2 Packages of Frozen Chopped Broccoli

8 to 12 oz Valveeta Cheese

1/2 Cup of Milk

Pinch of Salt and Pepper

1 Stick of Butter

1 Sleeve of Ritz Crackers

Directions

1. Thaw the chopped broccoli in microwave

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together soup, instant rice (uncooked), broccoli, cubed valveeta cheese, milk, salt and pepper.

3. Pour into 2 qt casserole dish (baking dish)

4. Melt a stick of butter over the stove and mix in a sleeve of crushed Ritz crackers and pour over the top of casserole.

5. Cook for about 40 minutes or until edges are a light golden brown.

(Note: I opt out of the stick of butter and salt because I try to make this dish as healthy as possible).

Life Out of Bounds

New Website

Blogger to WordPress

Blackberry Break-Up

Deals of the Week

Celebrity Style: In my dreams...

Pray for Japan

Verse of the Day

What kind of basketball fan are you?

Verse of the Day

Anthony Robles: One-legged Wrestler

Divorce in Professional Athletics by Erin Crispin

My Walgreens Trip: 3/15

Hillsong United: Aftermath Concert

Playful Words

Joe Crispin: Watch & Think

Jayden's 1st Basketball Game

Remembering Wes Leonard

My Trip to Rite Aid: 3/4

Deal of the Week: Dr. Pepper

Hillsong United: Aftermath, cont.

Hillsong United: Aftermath

Twitter: Love or Hate? Continued...

Twitter: Love or Hate?

My Favorite Items: Magnatiles

Manners

Crocs

Soul Surfer

200th Blog Post

Blog Roll: Continued

Happy Valentine's Day

My Rite Aid Trip: 2/14

Happy Birthday, Jayden!

My Rite Aid Trip: 2/7

Verse of the Day

Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice

Facebook Fad Ending?

Recommended Reading: Heaven is in this House by Bobbie Houston

American Idol: Love Story

More Blogs!

The Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Basketball Classic

Warm or Fashionable?

Morning Prayer

National Champions!

Negative Reaction

The God-Given Gift of Voice

Blog Roll

New Year's Eve 2011

Parenting: The Wrap-Up

Verse of the Day

Good-Bye 2010, Hello 2011

Christmas 2010

Married to a Baller: New Website Design

Valuable Lesson: Miss. Rita

The Stomach Bug

New Winter Activities: Karate & Ice-Skating

Recommended Reading: Ever After by Karen Kingsbury

Parenting: Activity

Parenting: SLEEP

Parenting: Discipline

Parenting: Preparing Your Child to Leave

To all my basketwives & girlfriends!

Parenting: Teaching Your Children About Jesus

Welcome, Jaelyn!

That's a wrap!

Give Thanks: Life

Verse of the Day

Give Thanks: Friends

HillsongNYC: December Update

Give Thanks: My Family

Wall Art

Give Thanks: My Church Family

Celebration of Life

The JEHH Holiday Raffle

Give Thanks: My Bible

New York City & the Marathon

Give Thanks: Our son, Jayden

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Website: The JEHH Memorial Fund

Give Thanks: My Husband